There is a chip that was embedded into every horse player’s noggin when they were a child. We were told they were giving us a booster, but it turned out to be an aggressive tendency to enjoy the races, and seek the gold wherever it came from.

Steve is a longtime user of the Winning Ponies system. He has enjoyed great success over the years, and as a professional in life. He approaches the game with the gleaming smile of an 8-year-old at Christmas. He bets with guarded optimism, and when he gets to his $100 winning mark, he says that “old Ben has shown up in his wallet.” That is about the time that he starts rolling up the carpet, and heads to the door. He knows there will be another day, and doesn’t push his luck. I can’t say that this will cover his new beach home, but it brings him great pleasure to reach that $100 goal.

Mike likes to mess around with parlays. We have spoke about the $3 payoff when you are wagering the beginning $50, and carry this over four times during the day. He enjoys streching his play to over five races, and stops no matter the outcome. He says this gives him enough time to watch some races and find that small value number that will escalate his place parlay. He comes out three days a week, and he does well at least two days. He likes to tell stories of taking his kids on vacation, or helping his oldest in college. His patient ways have paid off over the long run, and he really enjoys the races.

Rick is a horse-of-a-different color. He bets everything that he likes, and anything that is given to him. He rolls up to the windows spewing numbers, and he has a bankroll that could choke a horse. He sets his wagering bankroll at $10,000 per day, and he usually reaches his goal of being tapped midway in the card. He throws big money on favorites when he is losing, and when he is winning. He bets even more money on the chalk. Needless to say, he rarely ever wins, and he will be back the next day with his money. I would like to have 1% of what he has lost over the years. I could probably make a few trips with my son, and have a new car.

Cabbie is man who drives in after his shift. No sleep, no bath, and loves to complain. If there was ever an award for being miserable, he wins hands down. He could have made Secretariat lose in the Belmont. He winds up his wagers like he is trying to get out of there as fast as he can. Well, mission accomplished when you seem him grumbling back to his cab parked in valet. I don’t think he will ever change his outlook, but that is why the doors are open.

For me, racing has permeated my soul. It gets me excited to see the Twin Spires, or make that beautiful walk into Keeneland. I can bet $2, or make wagers that are pretty large. Overall, I enjoy the game. I love to talk horses, listen to others, and make plans to come back again. I look into the crytal ball years from now, and I will be one of those old men who sits at the track and make spot plays in the Race Book. We will talk horse from days gone by, and what is just around the corner. Working in racing has given me an inner view of players. Some will be content on winning a few bucks, and some have to bet it all. Often I have said that the track is the world’s biggest melting pot. You will never meet two of the same people, and the characters that make their way through the doors are some of the most interesting people in the world.